Blog Post
Former Senator Max Cleland of Georgia delivered the Democratic Radio Address this morning. He discussed President Bush's speech this week comparing the ongoing war in Iraq to the Vietnam War and the need to bring our troops home safely from an open-ended civil war.Los Angeles Times, "Pace likely to call to cut troop levels across Iraq"
"Administration and military officials say Marine Gen. Peter Pace is likely to convey concerns by the Joint Chiefs that keeping well in excess of 100,000 troops in Iraq through 2008 will severely strain the military." [August 24, 2007]
Army Secretary Pete Geren
Jim Abrams, Associated Press - Auguest 23, 2007
We need a New Direction to bring our troops home from Iraq so that America can refocus its efforts against terrorism worldwide.
-- President Bush, August 21, 2007
Today, the National Intelligence Council released an unclassified summary of the most recent National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq. The report paints a grim picture of the political and security situation in Iraq and is at odds with the President's assessment.
"Today's NIE details once again how Iraq's leaders are not creating the political reconciliation that is necessary for a stable nation to emerge."There is widespread agreement that the purpose of the President's escalation was to reduce violence enough to provide breathing space for Iraqi politicians to make significant strides in bringing their people together to build a secure and stable nation.
"The war in Iraq now has lasted longer than our own Civil War, and the latest National Intelligence Estimate indicates that there is no end in sight. How much longer will President Bush insist on staying the course while American troops risk their lives?"
Spratt Statement on CBO Summer Budget OutlookWASHINGTON -- House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-SC) issued the following statement in reaction to the release today of the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO's) "The Budget and Economic Outlook: An Update."